Haikal returns from eight-month layoff in allowance

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – As he winds down his New York operation, trainer Kiaran McLaughlin still has a few shots to fire. That includes Haikal, the multiple stakes-winning 3-year-old of 2019 who makes his long-awaited return to the races in a third-level allowance race Sunday at Aqueduct.

Haikal, who won the Grade 3 Gotham and the listed Jimmy Winkfield here last winter, has not started since finishing third in the Grade 2 Wood Memorial on April 6. He was scratched from the Kentucky Derby the day before the race with a foot injury. Originally scheduled for a 30- to 45-day break, Haikal was given more time as a few other minor issues were discovered.

He returned to McLaughlin’s barn in July and has been on the work tab since Sept. 21. Haikal was slated to return in a seven-furlong race on Tuesday, but that race failed to fill. Oddly, the same condition going a mile did fill for Sunday. McLaughlin expressed appreciation to the racing office for getting this race to go.

“I don’t think it makes a lot of difference, we’re just happy to get him back to the races,” McLaughlin, who trains Haikal for Shadwell Stable, said Friday from Florida. “Either way, he’s likely to get a little tired.”

Haikal has made all five of his starts at Aqueduct, winning three including the Jimmy Winkfield at seven furlongs over Joevia and the Gotham at a mile over Mind Control.

While Haikal went 3 for 5 in 2019, his four rivals Sunday went a combined 5 for 44 in 2018-19. Three of those wins came from Lone Rock, a 5-year-old gelding who could prove to be the main speed in this field. Haikal does his best running from off the pace.

“There’s not a lot of pace; maybe off the layoff we’ll be closer,” McLaughlin said. “It doesn’t really matter, we’re just happy to get him started.”

Multiplier, Small Bear, and Vorticity completes the field.

Due to issues with the Department of Labor and the high cost of doing business in New York, McLaughlin will be based solely in South Florida this winter and he’s unsure whether he will be stabling in New York this spring. Haikal is scheduled to get on a van with recent allowance winner Alisio and head to Palm Meadows on Tuesday.

Alisio won a second-level allowance race by 13 1/4 lengths here on Dec. 30, earning a 100 Beyer Speed Figure. McLaughlin is considering the Grade 2, $200,000 Inside Information at Gulfstream on Jan. 25 or the Grade 2, $250,000 Barbara Fritchie at Laurel on Feb. 15 for her next race.

McLaughlin said he will still ship horses to run in New York on occasion. He is considering the Grade 3, $250,000 Withers Stakes on Feb. 1 for Ajaaweed, the Remsen Stakes runner-up.